Tuesday, 28 July 2009

39 dead, Bauchi declares curfew

Ayo Okulaja with Agency reportsJuly 27, 2009 09:58AMT

The Bauchi State government has imposed a 9pm to 6am curfew in the state capital. Addressing the press on Sunday in Bauchi, Isa Yuguda, the state's governor said that "the imposition of the curfew became necessary to avoid further havoc on innocent persons."

He said that the activities of the group known as Boko Haram, were a threat to the nation. "This is a threat. The emergence of a group that is trying to threaten the survival of our people," Mr. Yuguda said.

The group says it wants "to clean the Nigerian system which, they claim is polluted by western education and uphold Sharia all over the country." The curfew follows violence in the city, early on Sunday, in which an armed gang attacked a police station because of the arrest of their leaders.

About 32 people are reported by Reuters, to have lost their lives during the clash between security forces and the gang. According to Reuters news agency the spokesperson of the police in Bauchi state, Mohammed Barau, said "the situation is now under control as more members of the organization are being arrested". Witnesses say hundreds of people have been arrested since violence erupted.

Mr Yuguda added that "the arrest of the people is something that we should celebrate and it should be replicated in all the cities." "Bauchi in northeast Nigeria, is one of 12 states in the predominately Muslim north that started a stricter enforcement of Sharia in 2000 which has sparked bouts of sectarian violence that killed lots of people."